Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers urges fans to keep the faith and admits the speculation is part and parcel of the game

Brendan Rodgers has urged Liverpool fans to maintain their faith in the team despite recent disappointing results, and insisted speculation about his job is a normal part of managing a big Premier League club.

Despite a positive start to the new season that saw the Reds beat Stoke and Bournemouth and secure a goalless draw away to Arsenal, Rodgers' side have since suffered a disappointing run of results which has heaped the pressure on the Northern Irishman.

After being beaten 3-0 at home to West Ham - the Hammers' first win at Anfield since 1963 - and then losing 3-1 to fierce rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford, Liverpool have drawn three successive matches - which ended in their narrow League Cup victory over Carlisle United on penalties in midweek.

Reports have claimed that former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp and ex-Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti are contenders to replace Rodgers should he be sacked, but the Reds boss has now insisted his relationship with Liverpool's owners remains strong.

"In terms of names linked, when you're a manager of a club this size there is always going to be speculation about your job, especially when not winning," he said on Friday.